Figure wheeled toy



Jan. 22 1924.

e. H. FLETCHER ET AL FIGURE WHEELED TOY Filed Jan. 12. 1921 5J3. Fiefr/Eei: Q I 1.". 27019102.

Patented Jan. 22,- 1924.

tree STATES PATENT ounce.

GEORGE HENRY'FIIETCHER AND FRANK LEONARD MORGAN, E HOQUIAH, WASHINGTON. I I

manna WHEEILED TGY.

Application flled January 12, 1921. Serial No. 486,709.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnonon IIENRY FLETCHER and FRANK LEONARD MORGAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Hoquiam, in the county of Grays Harbor and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Figure Wheeled Toy, of which the following is a specification.

I0 This invention relates to toys and more particularly to wheeled toys.

The object of the invention is to provide a toy so constructed that when drawn over a slightly irre ular surface the toy will have I a sinuous or r ythmic movement.

Another, object is to provide a toy of this character constructed of a combination of sections connected by a flexible joint, rotating elements and properly distributed weights so'arranged that a sinuous rhythmic motlon is imparted to the toy when it is drawn over a slightly uneven surface.

Another object is to .provide a toy in the form of an animal, insect or the like mounted on wheels, the members of which are connected by nicely adjusted flexible joints and the weight of the various so connected members so distributed relatively to said joints and" wheels that a sinuous rhythmic motion will be imparted to the toy when it is drawn over a surface having a slight inequality.

Another object is to provide a wheeled toy composed of hin dly connected sections so balanced and t e wheels so mounted thereon that a sinuous movement will be imparted to the toy and which will also permit the toy to turn at abrupt angles without upsetting. a

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and specifically pointed. out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawing: Fi e -1 re resents a per ctive view takeri ii rom the side of a toy e dstructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and, Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

In the embodiment illustrated the toy constituting this invention is shown in the form of an alligator although obviously it may be of any desired form representing any animal, insect or the like. This animal is composed of a plurali-t of flexibly connected sections, any desire number of which may be emplo ed, three being here shown and numbere 1, 2 and 3, :1 being the head, 2 the body or intermediate portion and 3 the tail.

The head 1 and tail 3 are here shown cutaway at their inner ends on their upper edges to provide seats 4 to receive and support the ends of the head 5 of the intermediate or body memher 2 which member is made T-shaped with its shank 6 disposed between and in close proximity to the projecting inner portions 1 and 3 of the head and tail members (see Fig. 2). The sides of the shank 6 and the end members 1 and 3 are rounded so that the sections may turn freely a' predetermined distanoe without contactin Pintles 7 extend through the ends of t e head 5 of member 2 and through the projecting ends 1 and 3*- of the head and tail sections and-flexibly connect said sections with the intermediate or body section 2 the weight of which is supported on said head and tail sections. The body member. '2 has stop shoulders 2 located on each side of its hinged connection to be engaged'by the adjacent section for limitin the lateral pivotal movement of the sections.

This toy is shown mounted on a plurality of sets of rotating elements which may be either in the form of wheels, balls, ball bearings or other similar rotating'elements. As shown two pairs of wheels 8 support the toy one pair being carried by a front axle 9 and the other'pair by a rear axle 10, said wheels'being so arranged relatively to the head and tail members and body of the animal to cause them to balance with reference to the joints which connect said members. When the 'toy is drawn over any surface with a slight irregularity a rhythmic or sinuous motion will be imparted to the toy. J

The wheels 8 or other rotary elements may be arranged; in sets of two, three or of the wheels causes the section to have a more, and in combination with the rigid flexible joints which connect said sections, cause said sections to swing laterall The tail-carrying or rear section 3 and te head or front section 1 are comparatively heavy relatively to the intermediate section and the wheels which support said sections are mounted at a point between the center of gravity of each section and its connection with the adjacent section and this location sinuous or wriggling movement when the toy or push exerted on the tail section the front or head section will operate in a similar manner.

It is of course understood that the toy may be constructed of any suitable material, wood, metal, rubber or the like and it may be of any desired form the serpentine or rhythmic motion being imparted by the combination of flexible joints, proper distribution of weight of respective parts, and the mounting of the rotating elements with relation to these parts.

Any suitable means may be employed for drawing the toy over the floor, a cord 11 being here shown fastened by means of a ring 12 to the nose of the alligator and while afiording endless amusement to small children, upsetting of the toy is prevented when making sharp turns so that a child may be amused indefinitely without requiring the attention of others to right his toy when it becomes upset.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A figure wheeled toy comprising a plurality of longitudinally alined sections directly hinged one to another to swing i reelv in a lateral direction, each one of the terminal sections being provided with a pair of wheels located relatively nearer to its hinged connect-ion than to its free end and at a distance from the hinged connection.

2. A toy of the class described composed of a plurality of longitudinally aligned sections flexibly connected to freely swing laterally, and rotarymeans supporting the rear section at a point in advance of its center of gravity and between said center of gravity and the connection of said section with the adjacent section, whereby a sinuous movement of the sections is produced when the toy is drawn over a supporting surface.

3. A wheeled toy composed of a plurality of longitudinally alined flexibly connected sections, rotary means supporting the front portion of the toy, and rotary means supporting the rear section at a point in ad- Vance of its center of gravity whereby a sinuous movement of the section is produced when the toy is drawn over a supporting surface.

4:. A wheeled toy comprising a jointed, lateral, flexible body and comparatively heavy head and tail portions, rotatable means supporting the front portion of said body, and similar means supporting the tail portion thereof, said supporting means being located between the center of gravity of the section which it supportsand the connection of said section with an adjacent section.

5. A wheeled toy composed of a plurality I of sections connected by a plurality of flexible joints, and rotatable friction operating supporting elements secured to said rear section in advance of its center of gravity whereby a sinuous movement of the section is produced when the toy is drawn over a supporting surface.

6. A toy of the class described comp-rising front and rear sections with an intermediate section pivotally connecting them to provide for the lateral swinging of said sections in opposite directions, actuating and supporting wheels carried by said front and rear sections, the wheels supporting said rear section being located in advance of the center of gravity of said rear section to cause sinuous movement of the rear section when the wheels rotate and frictionally engage a supporting surface.

7. A toy of the class described composed of a plurality of longitudinally alined sections, the meeting ends of which are provided with registering vertically disposed hinge knuckles, pintles connecting said knuckles, pairs of wheels supporting the end sections, the wheels supporting one end section being located inwardly beyond the center of gravity of said section between said center and the adjacent joint of the next section to cause a sinuous movement of the sections when the wheels are drawn tion and its connection with the adjacent section and in spaced relation to its supsection, said means holding said section in porting surface. spaced relation to its supporting surface.

9. A wheeled toy composed of a, lurality In testimony whereof, we aifix our signa- K of flexibly connected sections, an means tures hereto. is supporting one of the end sections at a point between the center of gravity of said GEORGE HENRY FLETCHER. section and its connection with the adjacent FRANK LEONARD MORGAN. 

